Angular Resolving Radar Sensor Antenna Array Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar sensors for motor vehicles face challenges in achieving improved angle detection capability while maintaining circuit complexity within limits, particularly in balancing field of view and angular resolution.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves arranging at least two antenna elements connected to the same reception channel with directional characteristics having two main lobes with different main sensitivity directions, allowing for a wider field of view without reducing angular resolution. This is achieved by asymmetrically positioning antenna elements with respect to the optical axis of the radar lens, enabling separate and non-overlapping main lobes for easier signal distinction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the same antenna elements are used for transmitting and receiving radar signals, then device complexity is reduced, but angular resolution and field of view are compromised due to squinting effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple antenna elements (at least four) arranged in a specific geometric pattern, where each element can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the system to achieve complex beamforming patterns while using a unified transmit-receive architecture, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and angular resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement of antenna elements relative to the optical axis of the radar lens, with elements positioned at different distances and angles. This asymmetric configuration compensates for squinting effects and enables precise angular resolution while maintaining a unified transmit-receive system, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and measurement precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If antenna elements are arranged to cover a wide field of view, then detection capability is improved, but angular resolution deteriorates due to overlapping sensitivity ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different local characteristics to different antenna elements, with each element having a specific directional sensitivity pattern. By optimizing the individual beam patterns of each element and their spatial arrangement, the system achieves both wide overall field of view coverage and maintains sharp angular resolution within each sector, preventing the overlap problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional linear array to a two-dimensional geometric arrangement of antenna elements in the aperture plane. This dimensional change enables the system to achieve wide field of view in one angular dimension while maintaining fine angular resolution in the other dimension through proper element positioning and weighting.
3Measurement precision
If more antenna elements are used to improve angular resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna elements into a unified array system with shared transmit and receive circuits. By using constructive interference and beamforming techniques across the array, the system achieves high angular resolution equivalent to having individually controlled beams from each element, while avoiding the circuit complexity of fully independent element control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves different beamforming patterns and angular resolutions by changing the electrical parameters (amplitude and phase weights) assigned to each antenna element rather than physically redesigning the hardware. This parameter-based control allows flexible optimization of angular resolution while maintaining a fixed, simplified hardware architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for enhanced angular resolution equivalent to six individual beams with only four receiving channels, providing a wider field of view while maintaining sharp beam focus, thus improving the detection of radar objects in multiple directions.
Implementation Method 1
a number of antenna elements, a number of receiving channels and a radar lens arranged in front of the antenna elements (12)
Implementation Method 2
The primary radiators are designed as patch antennas, for example. In order to achieve an angular offset of the main sensitivity directions of the patch antennas
Implementation Method 3
The differences in the runtime of the radar echoes from the radar object to the various antenna elements result in a phase difference that is approximately proportional to the directional angle
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an angular resolving radar sensor for motor vehicles, comprising several antenna elements (12) and several receiving channels, wherein at least two antenna elements (12) connected to the same receiving channel (28/1) together have a directional characteristic with at least two main lobes (16) having different main sensitivity directions (20).